The impact of annuity payments on estate taxesNo property interest is included in the estate of a deceased straight-life annuity holder, according to this article. The estate-tax impact of annuities with survivor benefits, however, vary based on whether that benefit is paid to the estate or a beneficiary, the article says. Another factor is whether the deceased annuity holder paid all or part of the purchase price. National Underwriter Life & Health
(3/8)

Expert: Private-equity firms look to annuity business to diversifyPrivate-equity firms have been buying and reinsuring annuity lines for a chance to exercise their investment and asset-management capabilities, says Scott Robinson of Moody's Investors Service. Fixed and fixed-indexed annuities were the main target of alternative-investment managers in 2012, but the trend this year may be variable annuities, Robinson said. "[Private equity] firms are looking for something that is going to meet their returns, and they have fairly high return hurdles. They are looking for businesses that are going to provide some diversification to their other investments," he said. National Underwriter Life & Health
(3/8)

Whitepaper: SDN: How do you get there from here?Are the growing data needs of mobile, cloud, big data and social threatening today's enterprise networks? Scalable processes, a phased integration approach and the appetite to optimize over time are key components of a modern network. It's how agile organizations prepare for the data needs of tomorrow.Explore the whitepaper to start down the path toward SDN.

Financial Literacy

Commentary: Simple steps can help make the most of 401(k)sInvestors can make several quick changes to improve the health of a 401(k), writes Stuart Robertson of ShareBuilder Advisors. Among Robertson's tips: Increase the percentage you're contributing when you get a raise, use a formula for allocations of fixed-income-based funds and stock funds to rebalance your portfolio as you age, and shop for lower-priced index funds. Forbes
(3/6)

On the Economy

U.S. jobless rate falls to 7.7%, but doubts remainThe U.S. unemployment rate reported Friday surprised economists, dropping to 7.7% for February from 7.9% in January. However, labor force participation remained unchanged at 58.6%, just 0.4 percentage points above the post-recession low and well below the 20-year average of about 66%. "This shows the depth of the recent employment recession -- worse than any other post-war recession -- and the relatively slow recovery due to the lingering effects of the housing bust and financial crisis," wrote Bill McBride of Calculated Risk. Forbes
(3/8)

Building Your Practice

What to do when a financial plan goes awryLong-term financial plans have faced challenges from bear markets, prolonged bouts of high unemployment, family members' financial distress and unforeseen health issues, according to this article. Advisers need to guide clients in readjusting their plans and reducing spending, experts say. Financial Advisor online
(3/6)

Financial Products

Scaled-down annuities aim to offer benefits at lower costA few companies have begun to offer lower-cost alternatives to annuities with living benefits, giving investors the chance to pay less if they are willing to accept some tweaks in benefits. Instead of the typical annual fees worth about 3.5% of assets, the new products carry fees of 1.45% to 2.79%, Anne Tergesen writes. The Wall Street Journal
(3/10)